Gas furnace



GAS FURNACE Filed Aug. 2e, 1946 Humm l N .7 w 1 0M. JEH mwm TMNA Mmmm MSZM Imam JAKA 3 M43 if 4Q, .T.. 2%

Patented June 5, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GAS FURNACE tion of California Application August 26, 1946, Serial No. 692,945

10 Claims.

Our invention relates generally to heating units and particularly to improvements in floor furnaces of the types disclosed in the prior applications of James Stanley Johnson, Serial No. 551,- 557, led August 28, 1944:, now Patent No. 2,470,- 247, issued May 17, 1949, and Serial No. 560,133, iiled October 24, 1944, now abandoned.

Floor furnaces constructed in accordance with the above-named applications include a watertight pan at the lower end of the furnace casing for preventing the entrance of water from the ground into said furnace casing and to provide a support and enclosure for the gas burner. In furnaces of such types generally employed, the gas burner is provided with a plurality of jets for the discharge of gas in a manner to dene a combustion area having a length greater than its width. The gas burner is usually supported within the pan with its ends merely resting upon brackets therein and while this provides a convenient means for installing the burner, it has been found advantageous to mount the burner in such a manner that it is positively held against displacement in any direction. It is therefore an object of our invention to provide a heating unit having means for supporting the gas burner in place Within the pan to prevent relative movement. We prefer to accomplish this mounting by providing a pair of spaced supporting members extending transversely within the pan and interengaging means between the supporting members and the gas burner for retaining the burner in place between the supporting members.

Air to support combustion is generally admitted to the burner and combustion chamber over the upper edge of the pan or lower housing and beneath the lower edge of the furnace casing or through the pan, and in either event there is a tendency during combustion for the air to be supplied to diierent parts oi the combustion area at different rates, whereby the efficiency of combustion is substantially impaired. Stated more specifically, it has been determined that during combustion the air, which is drawn into the pan by the displacement of heated air from the furnace, flows through the pan longitudinally of the gas burner and it is obvious that because the air will be drawn past that end of the burner which is closest to the air inlet passage of the pan at a relatively high velocity and because it is drawn beneath this end of the burner, it tends to by-pass this end of the burner. It is therefore another object of our invention to provide means arranged within the pan of the heating unit and operative to control the flow of air to cause the same to be supplied to that end of the gas burner and combustion chamber which would otherwise be inadequately supplied by the air stream, thereby effecting a more uniform distribution of the airy throughout the entire length of the burner and combustion chamber. We prefer to accomplish this result by providing means within the pan for producing a relatively high velocity and low pressure area at a point adjacent the end of the burner which is closest to the inlet end of the pan to cause part of the air stream to be diverted to this end of the burner to ultimately effect a relatively even distribution of air throughout the entire length of the burner. The air now control means is preferably, although not essentially, incorporated in one of the burner supporting inembers to simplify the structure.

Another object of this invention is to provide a heating unit having a lower pan which is simple in construction, efficient in operation and economical to manufacture.

Further objects of our invention will appear from the following speciiication and the drawing, which is intended for the purpose of illustration only, and in which:

Fig. l is a plan view of the lower portion of a floor furnace embodying a pan or housing and a burner mounting means constructed in accordance with our invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the pan and mounting means, taken on line 2-2 of Fig. l; and

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. l.

Referring to the drawing in detail, our improved pan structure is illustrated as applied to use with a oor furnace which includes a main casing 5, indicated by broken lines in Fig. 2. The casing 5 is not herein shown or described in detail since it may be of any suitable construction.. In this respect, attention is directed to the above-noted applications of James Stanley Johnson which disclose casings to which the present improvements may be advantageously applied.

Attached to the bottom of the casing 5 in any suitable manner is a lower enclosure member or pan I0 which may be constructed from sheet metal. The pan i@ comprises a bottom wall ll, side walls i2 and I3 and end walls it and I5. The bottom wall ll and side walls l2 and I3 may be made from a single sheet of material bent to form shown in Fig. 3. The end walls Hi and l5 may have lateral anges Il and it at their lower and side edges respectively, the ilanges being welded or otherwise secured to the bottom wall and side walls I2 and I3 of the pan. Rests or supports I9 are associated with one or more of the walls of the pan i0, for a purpose to be described. As illustrated these rests or supports I9 are formed by bending the upper extremities of the side walls I2 and E3 down- Y wardly within the pan and then folding them in- Wardly. Such rests or supports I9 may be provided in other manners as, for example, by securing lugs, or horizontal strips or the like to the interior of the side walls I2 and I3.

Extending transversely withinlthe pan Iii are longitudinally spaced supporting members 2i? and 2| which are secured to the supports I9 by means of screws 22. The supporting members 26 and 2| have downwardly projecting legs or anges 23 provided with rectangular apertures 2li. Y The gas burner 25 may be of the usual type including a hollow yrectangular gas mixinggchamber 26 and an offset tubular inlet duct 2l through which the combustible mixture of gas and air` is introduced into the chamber, the chamber having apertures 28 providing nozzles through which the combustible gas mixture is emitted to be .burned thereabove. The burner 25 Vis provided kwith a rectangular lug 30 at each end of its chamber 26 adapted'to be inserted in the apertures Zi to mount Ythe burner in place in the pan g pan from above.V The air flows longitudinally` through the pan I0 and is drawn upwardly into the combustion chamber 33 adjacent the nozzles as the air stream flows to the combustionV chamb er at arelatively fast rate it has a tendencyto by-pass the end of the combustion chamber and Y v28 to support combustion of the gas mixture. As' v' previously explained, it has been determined that burnerwhichrare closest to the air inlet passage' Y and thus an even distribution of air to the combustion chamber is not obtained and the eiiiciency of combustion is substantially impaired. As illustrated, our inyention contemplates obviating this tendency by an control element. The lower end of the flange 23 of the supporting member 2! may bersloped downwardly to provide such an air flow control element or bafiie lip 34 which is disposed at a considerable distance below that` endof the burner'which is closest to the air inlet passage 32; As Vthe air stream passesV longitudinally through the pan I0 it flows across the tip of the inclined control element 35i at a high velocity and thus an area of low pressure is created at the rear of the flange 23 ofthe supporting member 2|. l'It will be apparent'therefore that part of the air' stream will be drawn upwardly around the lower end' or tip of this iiange and into the low pressure area'to adequately supply air vto the end of the combustion chamber 33 which is closest to the air inlet passage 32. By thus preventing by-passing of this end of the burner 25 a more uniform distribution of air throughout the combustion chamber and moreV emcient operation of the heating unit as a whole are assured.

The gas is supplied to the inlet duct 2 of the burner 25 through a pipe 35, one end of which is supportedby arsheet metal bracket l fastened to the under side of the supporting member 2i by welding or other` suitable means. Any desired means, such as a screw 38 and thumbnut 39 maybe provided to secure the supporting member 2| and pipe to the furnace, the pipe passing through a hole 40 in the bracket. The gas supply pipe 36 includes a flow regulating valve 42 which, as is customary, is operated by a manually rotatable rod (not shown). The burner unit includes a pilot tube 43 having a valve 44, which also may be actuated by a rotatable control rod from above, the rotatable rods being adapted to pass through apertures 45 and 4S, respectively, in the top portion of the supporting member 2 I.

It Will be observed from the foregoing that our burner enclosure or pan and means for supporting the gas burner within the pan constitute an improvement Vover heating units of previous types. As a particular improvement, our invention provides means for more positively supporting the gas burning unit to prevent displacement thereof in any direction and to avoid turning of the unit within the pan. Moreover, our improved pan assembly is exceptionally simple in construction and thus may be manufactured at a relative-V ly low cost. As another important feature of improvement, our invention provides a pan structure having means for controlling the flow of air to. the burner and combustion chamber in such a manner that a more even distribution of air is eiected throughout the entire length thereof and greater efficiency of combustion assured.

Although we have shown the heating unitV as embodied in a preferred form of construction, by wayof example, it will be understood that it may be. modified in various particulars without tudinal spaced relation to each other, said sup-f vporting members having depending stiffening' flanges extending transversely of said enclosure member; and a burner unit having oppositely directed means at its ends engageable with said flanges to mount said burner unit longitudinally `within said enclosure member and to prevent longitudinal movement thereof in both directions.

V2. A heating unit, including: a box-like enclosure member having a bottom wall, side walls and end walls, the upper portions of Said side walls being folded downwardly and laterally within said enclosure-member to provide longitudinal rests;

4supporting members secured Yto said rests and extending transversely of said enclosure member in longitudinally spaced relation with respect to each other, said supporting members having depending flanges extending transversely of said enclosure member and provided with apertures;

and a burner unit having oppositely directed Ymeans releasably engageable in said apertures to mountV said burner unit longitudinally within said enclosure member and to prevent longitudinal movement thereof in both directions.

3. A heating unit, including: a box-like enclosure member having a bottom wall, side walls and end walls; a first supporting member extending transversely lwithin said enclosure member, said rst supporting member being spaced from i one of said end walls to provide an air inlet i) passage therebetween; a second supporting member within said enclosure member and spaced longitudinally from said rst supporting member; a burner unit provided With an inlet opening and outlet nozzles; inter-engaging means on said burner unit and said rst and second supporting members to mount said burner unit longitudinally within said enclosure member with its inlet opening disposed adjacent said air inlet passage; and deector means for creating an area of relatively low pressure adjacent that end of said burner unit which is closest to said inlet passage to cause part of the stream of air entering said enclosure member through said pasn sage and flowing through said enclosure member to be diverted toward said end of said burner unit.

4. A heating unit, including: a box-like enclosure member having a bottom wall, side walls and end walls; a rst supporting member extending transversely within said enclosure member, said nrst supporting member being spaced from one of said end Walls to provide an air inlet passage therebetween, said first supporting member having a depending flange; a second supporting member within said enclosure member and spaced longitudinally from said first supporting member; a burner unit provided with an inlet opening and outlet nozzles; inter-engaging means on said burner unit and said rst and second supporting members to mount said burner unit longitudinally within said enclosure member with its inlet opening disposed adjacent said air inlet passage; and an inclined lip on said flange disposed in the stream of air entering said enclosure member through said passage and owing through said enclosure member across said lip for creating an area of relatively low pressure in the stream adjacent that end of said burner unit which is closest to said inlet passage to cause part of the stream of air to be diverted toward said end of said burner unit.

5. A heating unit, including: an enclosure member having a bottom wall, side walls, and end walls; inwardly extending rests formed integral 1- with said side walls; burner-supporting members secured to said rests; a burner supported by said supporting members and a deflector member formed integral with a supporting member, said deiiector member and its integral supporting member defining with said side walls and one of said end walls a passage disposed adjacent said deflector member through which air can enter said enclosure member, said deector member being operative to direct air entering the enclosure member to the end of the burner adjacent said deiiector member.

6. A heating unit, including: an enclosure member having a bottom wall, side walls, and end walls, the interior of said enclosure at one end communicating with the atmosphere to allow air to flow in a stream longitudinally through said enclosure; longitudinally extending rests on said side walls formed by bending upper portions thereof downwardly and inwardly; supporting members releasably secured to said rests and extending transversely of said enclosure member, said supporting members having stiiiening depending flanges with elongated apertures therein; a burner unit having projecting portions elongated transversely of their length for reception in said apertures whereby said burner unit is releasably supported in said enclosure member by said supporting members and against rotation relative thereto; and a deflecting member 6 integral with one of said supporting members and projecting into said stream of air entering said enclosure member to direct air to the end of the burner unit adjacent said defiecting member.

7. A heating Llllt, including: an enclosure member having a bottom wall, side walls, and end walls; burner-supporting members secured to said enclosure member in spaced relation therein; a burner unit having ends supported by said supporting members; and a deector member connected to one of said supporting members, said deflector member and said supporting member to which it is connected defining with said side walls and one of said end walls a passage disposed adjacent said deflector member through which air can enter said enclosure member, said defiector member being operative to direct air to one end of said burner unit.

8. A heating unit, including: an enclosure member having a bottom Wall, side walls and end walls; a burner; burner-supporting members for supporting the ends of said burner so as to mount said burner within said enclosure member, said supporting members being secured within said enclosure member; and a deflector member integral with one of said supporting members, said deiiector member and said integral supporting member denning with said side walls and one of said end Walls a passage disposed adjacent said defector member through which air can enter said enclosure member, said deflector member extending downwardly into the airstream passing therebeneath and operative to create a low pressure area adjacent said deector member so as to draw air from said airstream into proximity with the end of said burner which is supported by said one of said supporting members.

9. A heating unit, including: a box-like enclosure member having a bottom wall, side walls and end walls, the upper portions of said side walls being folded downwardly and laterally within said enclosure member to provide longitudinal rests; supporting members secured to said rests and extending transversely of said enclosure member in longitudinally spaced relation with respect to each other, said supporting members having depending flanges extending transversely of said enclosure member and provided with apertures; and a burner unit having oppositely directed means releasa'oly engageable in said apertures to mount said burner unit longitudinally within said enclosure member and to prevent longitudinal movement thereof in both directions.

10. A heating unit, including: a box-like enclosure member having a bottom wall, side walls and end walls; a first supporting member extending transversely within said enclosure member, said rst supporting member being spaced from one of said end walls to provide an air inlet passage therebetween; a second supporting member within said enclosure member and spaced longi tudinally from said rst supporting member; a burner unit provided with an inlet opening and outlet nozzles; interengaging means on said burner unit and said rst and second supporting members to mount said burner unit longitudinally within said enclosure member with its inlet opening disposed adjacent said air inlet passage; and deiiector means for creating an area of relatively low pressure adjacent that end of said burner unit which is closest to said inlet passage to cause part of the stream of air entering said enclosure member through said passage and flowing through said enclosure member to be diverted toward said end of said burner unit, said first and second supporting members being secured fast to said side Walls.

JAMES STANLEY JOHNSON. KARL LEON BEDELL.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Heisler Nov, 24, 1925 Number 8 Name Date Bitgood Jan. 21, 1930 Kirby Feb. 9, 1932 Fraser June 7, 1932 Burch Oct. 24, 1933 Kuenhold Dec. 18, 1934 Funk Sept. 3, 1935 Crary Sept. 27, 1938 Dolibois Apr.V 11, 1939 Chambers June 13, 1939 Martois Feb. 11, 1941 Johnson Nov. 30, 1943 

